Whether you're looking to light up a romantic rendezvous or mimic the half-light of a movie theater, get your hands on a light dimmer for instant control

Most Read

For first-timers, consider Lutron's Credenza three-way lamp dimmer ($10 to $20)—it simply plugs into the lamp and then into the outlet, much like an extension cord. It saves energy; say you dim the lights by 25 percent, then you save about 25 percent on your energy bill and the bulb lasts four times longer. Plus you'll stop constantly pawing the switch underneath the shade (especially helpful for delicate, pricey pieces).

Lutron also offers a great selection of dimmers that can be easily installed in your wall in place of existing light switches. Affordable and easy to use, the new Qoto dimmers ($10 to $20) can be controlled from one or two locations and can blend into any decor when combined with Fassada fashion wallplates, which feature a "no visible screws" design.

If you're ready to dim with abandon, try one of Lutron's whole-house automated systems—RadioRA (starts at $1,800) and the more-extensive HomeWorks (starts at $5,000), which let you personalize and control all the lighting systems in your home with the push of one button. For info: 800-523-9466; lutron.com.